By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants Monday, a team that was once a playoff rival to the Phillies. One of his former teammates, Ryan Howard, may have to do the same if he hopes to continue his big league career.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays are considering a host of potential sluggers to serve as either their DH or first baseman, one of which is Howard:
"They've been discussing and, most likely, will be picking from a second-tier group such as lefties Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Howard, Brandon Moss and Luis Valbuena, or righties such as Billy Butler and Chris Carter, the 41-homer-hitting nontender. There is also talk of bringing back Logan Morrison, who hit 14 homers in half a season between his wretched start and season-ending injury."
Essentially, the Rays are casting a fairly wide net. They already would seem to have a Howard-type option at first in Brad Miller, who slashed .243/.304/.482 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs in 2016. Since Miller is a left-handed hitter, it would seem that Butler or Carter would be better potential options that someone like Howard, because they hit righthanded. If the Rays do elect to sign a Howard-type option, Pedro Alvarez would probably make more sense at this point in his career.
Howard, 37, did hit 25 home runs in 2016, but only drove in 59 runs and saw his batting average, on-base percentage and strikeout percentages slip to career worsts. Despite that, Howard said last week that he still has the "fire" to compete. Whether he gets that chance remains to be seen, though him signing a minor league deal like Rollins and having to make a team out of Spring Training seems within the realm of possibility.
If Howard were to sign with a team, he sits only 18 home runs away from 400 for his career, a milestone that once seemed inevitable for the former National League MVP.
